(Written in collaboration with Geula Girl)
From Mitzrayim to Eretz Yisrael, there were many tests for Am Yisrael and by the end there was only a small percentage of those who left Mitzrayim that entered Eretz Yisrael. First there was the test that separated those who wanted to leave Mitzrayim from those who didn't. Those who were attached to their Egyptian friends and Egyptian culture, reportedly four/fifths of the total number of Jews, died in the plague of darkness. Those who were willing to follow Hashem and His servant Moshe had to pass a loyalty test before they could leave Mitzrayim. They were required to take a lamb, which was worshipped by the Egyptians, slaughter it, smear its blood around the entrance to their house, roast it in full view of the Egyptians and then eat it. This demonstrated the total lack of power inherent in this Egyptian "god." (Interestingly, the Christian man-god is quite often referred to as the "Passover Lamb.")
Tanchuma, Balak 18, tells us how it went down:
" [A Moabite girl lures a Jew into her store.] Following that the girl says [to the Jew], 'You are like one of the family. Sit! Choose what you like!' and a jug of Ammonite wine is sitting by her. The wine of the nations had not yet been prohibited [later on, our sages forbade their wine to prevent intermarriage, wine being a factor in generating intimacy]. The girl comes out in jewelry and perfume, and entices him, saying, 'Why do we love you but you hate us? Take this vessel for free! Surely we are all decendents of one man, Terach, father of Abraham.' "
"Most of those who sinned with the Midyanite girls and worshiped the Ba'al Peor came from the airev rav. The seeds of impure desire had never been completely eradicated from their hearts. They were now weeded out from the pure stock of K'lal Yisrael through the test of Peor and the punishment that followed."
"If there should stand up in your midst a prophet or a dreamer of a dream, and he will produce to you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes about, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us follow gods of others that you did not know and we shall worship them!' -- do not hearken to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of a dream, for HASHEM, your G-d, is testing you to know whether you love HASHEM, your G-d, with all your heart and all your soul. HASHEM, your G-d, shall you follow and Him shall you fear; His commandments shall you observe and to His voice shall you hearken; Him shall you serve and to Him shall you cleave."(Devarim 13:2-5)
THIS IS A TEST! Will you follow Glenn Beck and the nations or will you follow Hashem and His Torah? This is your final warning.
From Mitzrayim to Eretz Yisrael, there were many tests for Am Yisrael and by the end there was only a small percentage of those who left Mitzrayim that entered Eretz Yisrael. First there was the test that separated those who wanted to leave Mitzrayim from those who didn't. Those who were attached to their Egyptian friends and Egyptian culture, reportedly four/fifths of the total number of Jews, died in the plague of darkness. Those who were willing to follow Hashem and His servant Moshe had to pass a loyalty test before they could leave Mitzrayim. They were required to take a lamb, which was worshipped by the Egyptians, slaughter it, smear its blood around the entrance to their house, roast it in full view of the Egyptians and then eat it. This demonstrated the total lack of power inherent in this Egyptian "god." (Interestingly, the Christian man-god is quite often referred to as the "Passover Lamb.")
The incident with the golden calf was yet another test. Am Yisrael was waiting for Moshe Rabeinu, the Mashiach of his generation, but they got impatient. When he didn't arrive at the expected time, they lost faith that he would come at all. The Erev Rav used the opportunity to lead the Children of Israel astray into worshipping the golden calf.
And then there was the very dramatic incident which occurred on our way into the promised land. The one which reminds me most of the current situation---the sin of the people with Ba'al Peor at Shittim.
And then there was the very dramatic incident which occurred on our way into the promised land. The one which reminds me most of the current situation---the sin of the people with Ba'al Peor at Shittim.
Our old nemesis Bilam came up with this idea. You remember him. We read about him in Parshat Balak the same week that Glenn Beck arrived in Israel to finalize his Restoring Courage events. I find it ironic that Bilam made his living with his mouth and so does Glenn Beck. Bilam tried three times to curse Yisrael and blessed instead, while Glenn Beck is holding three events to "bless" Yisrael and will end up cursing instead.
Tanchuma, Balak 18, tells us how it went down:
" [A Moabite girl lures a Jew into her store.] Following that the girl says [to the Jew], 'You are like one of the family. Sit! Choose what you like!' and a jug of Ammonite wine is sitting by her. The wine of the nations had not yet been prohibited [later on, our sages forbade their wine to prevent intermarriage, wine being a factor in generating intimacy]. The girl comes out in jewelry and perfume, and entices him, saying, 'Why do we love you but you hate us? Take this vessel for free! Surely we are all decendents of one man, Terach, father of Abraham.' "
This is similar to Beck's constituency, the so-called Christian Zionists, who say, "You are our brothers. We love the Jewish People We stand with Israel. Are we not all the children of Abraham?"
And it is all for the purpose of mixing with us and blurring the boundaries that Hashem established to our ultimate assimilation and destruction.
From Bamidbar Rabba 20:22 :
From Bamidbar Rabba 20:22 :
"Most of those who sinned with the Midyanite girls and worshiped the Ba'al Peor came from the airev rav. The seeds of impure desire had never been completely eradicated from their hearts. They were now weeded out from the pure stock of K'lal Yisrael through the test of Peor and the punishment that followed."
As we await the revelation of Melech HaMashiach, Hashem is presenting us with "tests" to "weed out" those who are undeserving because of their unfaithfulness to Him. In their minds and in their hearts, they've strayed from Him. They are attached to their Christian or Muslim "friends" and to the alien culture. They refuse to slaughter the gods of the impure nations and have gone even further in calling them "kosher!"
If Moshe/Mashiach won't come, we'll gather around Glenn Beck. He'll be our intercessor and speak for us to the world. He'll defend us to the nations and explain the justice of our cause. Chas v'shalom!
Glenn Beck's Restoring Courage event is a test from Hashem - a test of loyalty. Just like at Shittim, the idolaters are going to come and set up an event and invite Jews in to be "one" with them. In the name of preserving the status quo in Jerusalem; in the name of preserving western civilization and the freedom to do whatever one chooses, Jews are being enticed to commit spiritual adultery and to join a rebellion against the King of all kings. It is essentially a call to rebellion against Hashem's sovereignty, at the foot of His eternal dwelling place on earth.
From Parshat Re'eh, the parsha of the week of Restoring Courage:
"If there should stand up in your midst a prophet or a dreamer of a dream, and he will produce to you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes about, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us follow gods of others that you did not know and we shall worship them!' -- do not hearken to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of a dream, for HASHEM, your G-d, is testing you to know whether you love HASHEM, your G-d, with all your heart and all your soul. HASHEM, your G-d, shall you follow and Him shall you fear; His commandments shall you observe and to His voice shall you hearken; Him shall you serve and to Him shall you cleave."(Devarim 13:2-5)
THIS IS A TEST! Will you follow Glenn Beck and the nations or will you follow Hashem and His Torah? This is your final warning.
